WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Calling for an end to animal
research, animal rights activists on Thursday marched and chanted
through the University of California, Los Angeles campus.

The demonstration was an annual event marking "World Week for Animals
in Laboratories."

"Statistically, there's never ever been any validation of the fact
that working on animals actually impacts positively on human beings,"
said activist Richard McLellan.

McLellan, a retired emergency room doctor, was among the protesters
who claim the public needs to know that the animal research conducted at
UCLA and other laboratories isn't necessary for human health. They said
it amounts to torture.

"A lot of this research is done in secrecy. It's funded by taxpayers'
money and I would hope people would be curious enough to find out for
themselves, educate themselves and find out what's actually going on,"
said activist Julia Orr.

UCLA responded with a statement saying, "There is overwhelming
agreement among physicians and scientists worldwide that laboratory
animals provide irreplaceable and invaluable models for human systems.
Research involving laboratory animals at UCLA is heavily monitored and
subject to stringent and multiple federal laws and university
regulations."

The statement went on to say that ending all animal research would
diminish hope for millions of people with AIDS, cancer, heart disease
and other ailments.